When To Visit – The Tackle To Take

The railway system wasn’t working. In fact it was a disgrace, with commuters taking five hours to complete a journey that usually took thirty minutes. I’m certain the third world countries railways were more efficient. Then we, the travelling public, had the final insult when it was reported that our failed Rail Track Chairman who resigned would get a golden handshake of four hundred thousand pounds sterling. Not a bad deal if you can get it. We had motorists acting silly as they tried to keep their petrol tanks full, causing more shortages. One person managed to get half a gallon in his tank. Farmers and truckers were whinging as usual. I needed to escape all this madness and the problems caused by the current weather situation. After visiting my travel agent I booked a trip to the United Arab Emirates where I could at least have plenty of sunshine. I had been to the area on many occasions and I was sure I could find some interesting fishing by basing myself at the Jebel Ali hotel just outside Dubai; the distance from my hotel room to the waters edge was probably a hundred yards. Jebel Ali has a marina with some excellent sports fishing boats. After a few days fishing from the breakwaters, marina, shoreline and the Dubai creek it was time to book a boat for a trip hunting tuna. Over the previous few days I noticed the ocean often cut up rough after lunch when the wind strength increased considerably. With this in mind I decided on a dawn to lunch time session. After checking the weather forecast I booked a trip for the next morning. Afloat At Last and Casting A Fly It was just after dawn when Barry Windsor, the Jebel Ali hotel marina manager, Radu our Sri Lankan boatman, Ossie, an English photographer over shooting classic cars and hotel interiors in Dubai, and I, slowly moved out from Jebel Ali marina into the Arabian Gulf in search of tuna, kingfish and bonito. The ocean was an azure blue and the sun, looking like a huge orange ball, was slowly starting to rise over the desert in the east. Radu pointed the bows of the 32 foot ‘Stingray’ to the horizon in the west and slowly opened the throttle. The ‘Stingray’ is powered by twin 250hp Yamaha outboard motors – the sound become a deafening roar, the bows lifted and with an increase of noise we were off, skimming across the ocean’s surface. Occasionally a bigger wave would crash over the bows drenching me in spray. Looking to the stern I could see a big white water rooster tail created by the power of the outboard motors as they took us further offshore. Up in the bows I was scanning the horizon for diving birds, they would show us where the fish were. I was the hunter after the hunted, armed not with a rifle, but with a ten weight Sage fly rod, Tibor Riptide reel and a Cortland intermediate line with a 9 foot leader with a 30lb tippet. I had attached this to a big Lefty Kreh deceiver pattern. My other outfit, standing in the stern of Stingray, was a Greys twelve weight travel rod, Tibor Gulfstream reel, Teeny 450 grain shooting head and 9 foot leader with a 40lb tippet. To this I had attached a size 4/0 Sar-Mul-Mac fly pattern. I was dressed in shirt and shorts wearing a long peaked cap and polarised sunglasses and I was covered with lots of sunscreen. I use P20 made in Denmark, to the best of my knowledge it’s only available from airport shops and it’s well worth the money. Some four or five miles offshore I spotted a big group of sea birds diving into the ocean about six to seven hundred yards off our port beam. The water was being thrashed to a white foam as dozens of good size tuna or bonito twisted and turned in their hunt for an early breakfast. Rada had also seen the action and quickly throttled back the engines, the bows slowly dropped level with the ocean’s surface. We cruised slowly, closing the gap between boat and fish. I spotted a couple of good size tuna in the 15lb class swirl on the surface as they tore into sardines on and just below the surface.

Lost Fish

There was a crescendo of noise from the diving birds. White cheeked, Lesser Crested and Saunders terns, Lesser black-backed, great Black-Headed and Yellow-Legged gulls, all who were quickly joined by half a dozen Socotra cormorants. For some seconds I stood spellbound at this magnificent sight. The hunter then took control. I made one false cast then shot some fifty foot of line. This is not easy, into a fifteen knot wind when you’re chucking a big size 4/0 deceiver pattern. It landed among the swirling mass of fish and diving birds. A quick one-foot long strip and the fly was taken. A firm strip strike connected me to something powerful that dived for the depths. Line being quickly pulled from my hand, the reel was spinning as more line was taken by something very powerful. It was great to be back in the Arabian Gulf catching the ‘Finny Things’ and having a bent stick once more! Suddenly the fish was gone. The limp line fluttered in the wind. I was quite annoyed with myself at losing the fish. I wondered, Did I strike hard enough? Should I have given another couple of strip strikes? Was the hook sharp enough? I checked the latter – it was needle sharp, no problem there. I looked around the ocean, the fish and birds had gone, it was all quiet except for the sound of engines purring in neutral and the slapping of waves on the boat’s bows. I made a long cast then retrieved the line into the stripping basket placed on the deck of the boat. I then resumed my position in the bows, scanning the ocean once more for diving birds that would give away the position of the fish we were seeking. Rada opened up the engines, the bows lifted and a big rooster tail once more appeared at our stern as we skimmed across the ocean. Three or four miles further out into the ocean towards the Iranian coastline, Barry spotted diving birds. He shouted “Birds diving at 3 O’clock, about a mile away”. All eyes were quickly on the birds. As we drew closer, fish could be seen striking into bait fish. I stood ready to shoot line but it wasn’t to happen. As we got within a hundred yards of the fish they suddenly disappeared. Birds sat quietly on the ocean, all was quiet. After a short break for a cool drink we started off once more in our quest for feeding fish and looking those diving birds that would give away the feeding fish position. We spent half an hour or so criss-crossing the ocean. All we spotted were small groups of seabirds sitting quietly on the ocean, only moving if we went too close. Rada throttled back the engine and put the motors into neutral gear. We sat chatting and discussing many theories on why we couldn’t find the big shoals of bait fish and huge groups of seabirds, all the time scanning the ocean. Suddenly I was bought back to life by Rada opening up the motors and the bows lifting. With a roaring of engines in my ears we were making a fast run in a northerly location. Raja pointed to 12 O’clock. Looking in that direction I could faintly make out some diving birds. As we moved closer I could quite clearly see dozens of diving screaming birds and swirling fish. I pulled off some line and made a couple of false casts keeping the line in the air. Raja moved me in close and upwind of the feeding fish. I pulled off some more line, made another false cast then shot the line. The fly landed on the edge of the feeding fish. I went to lift off for another cast when a fish grabbed hold. For ten seconds I was attached to some living powerful thing then suddenly it had gone. Score; two nil to the fish. I once more checked the hook. It was sharp enough but the shoal had now gone. Once more we moved off searching the ocean for more feeding fish. Ten minutes later I spotted a small group of diving birds, I could see the odd dorsal fin breaking the surface. I stood in the bows ready to shoot line as Rada bought the boat around – very close to the feeding fish. My cast sent the fly among the fish and feeding birds. It was quickly taken by a kingfish but seconds later this fish was off. The leader bitten through. Not a lot I could do about that one, though I was getting angry with myself. I had never lost as many fish in succession before. We spotted another group of feeding tuna. I was close enough to get a good look at them, though I cannot definitely say what species of tuna they were, I feel they could have been kawakawa. This time we had beaten the birds to the fish. My cast was spot on. Three one foot strips and a fish grabbed hold, I gave two very firm strip strikes. On feeling the fish I hit it again, then the fun started as it took off on a very long fast run which quickly ended as the line went slack. Once more I checked the hook – I couldn’t find anything wrong. It was needle sharp but I changed the fly anyway. Once more we started cruising the ocean. On the portside, way out on the horizon Raja had spotted diving birds, I couldn’t see them, nor could Barry, Ossie, Kate or myself. We took Rada’s word for it as he opened the throttle wide and drove the boat very fast over the ocean waves which had now increased in height. Now and again I was drenched by a big wave crashing over the bows but who cared! As we drew near I could faintly make out the blurred shape of diving birds. Rada drove on, taking us closer and closer to the killing zone. At about five hundred yards he eased back on the throttle, the bows slowly lowered. I made a couple of false casts keeping the line in the air, ready to shoot when the target came within range. I could now see the dorsal fins of some good size tuna as they chased the bait fish. I picked my target, a fish of forty or so pounds then sent the deceiver pattern out and in front of the fish, quickly stripping the fly back in two foot long strips. I watched open mouthed as my target fish chased the fly then engulfed it. The answering strip strike connected. The fish dived, loose line was taken in a blur and the rod hooped over. I could feel the power as the fish used all its muscle to get down to the sanctuary of deep dark water and hopefully freedom. I had other ideas. For some minutes it was stalemate but suddenly the line went slack. Winding up I found the thirty pound leader had busted. How unlucky can you get! Still, that’s why its called fishing and not catching. It was now 1-30pm Time to head back to the Jebel Ali hotel for a shower and some lunch. Being Friday it would be one of the hotels famous BBQ lunches which attracts people from as far away as Abu Dhabi in the north and Sharjah in the south. I feel the reason for not finding big schools of bait fish, or the bigger fish, was caused by the rough weather of the previous few days which had split up the bait fish schools.

When To Visit – The Tackle To Take

My advice is, go out between the months of October until April when it’s cold and wet in Britain. You could stretch this into May if you don’t have a choice. Don’t go during the summer months unless you’re looking for a good bargain. It’s too hot with temperatures over a hundred degrees Farenheit. Jebel Ali hotel is the perfect place for all the family, young and old. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. Golf? Tiger Woods will be playing there in March. Tennis, squash, scuba diving, wind surfing, water skiing, bird watching and horse riding are all available. At certain times of the year horse and camel racing takes place. The hotel has an excellent shooting range with clay and target shooting, both rifle and handguns. In fact at Jebel Ali hotel, the list is endless. The best fly fishing is between January and March but I have been out in October and November and still found good fishing. (Though sometimes I couldn’t keep them on!). Sailfish, dorado, kingfish, barracuda, various snappers, cobia. trevally, jacks, queenfish, bonito and spanish mackerel are some of the fish to be caught. Other species have been caught which I couldn’t identify. My choice of tackle is as follows: Seven or eight weight outfit with both floating and slow sink lines which will be ideal for fishing the Dubai creek, harbours, marinas, breakwaters and the shoreline. I take a ten weight outfit with intermediate and medium fast sink lines. For the big fish, I feel a twelve weight with a 450 grain shooting head is an outfit that will be used on many occasions. I also take an intermediate line for those days when the fish are taking bait fish off the surface or a foot down in the water. Your reels being used on the ten and twelve weight outfits should carry a minimum of two hundred yards of thirty pound backing. I put on three hundred yards of backing. The best knot for joining backing to fly lines is without doubt the Bimini Twist. I use the loop to loop system for joining leader to fly line. Make sure your fly lines are manufactured for use in the tropics. Don’t use the lines you would use for cold water fishing, they are useless. I find the Cortland Tropic lines perfect. They come lazer printed which makes identification quick and easy. It’s an idea that all fly line manufactures could copy. No longer would you have to put a sticker on the reel to identify the line, which quickly becomes lost. For the past few years I have taken a spinning outfit for those windy days. Why sit around on the beach when you can go out and chuck spinners and plugs into the ocean? A seven foot rod, fixed spool reel with twelve pound line will be most suitable. With this outfit you can also free line a tiger prawn bait and get some excellent sport. When the wind is blowing a hooligan, freelining shrimp baits has often kept me fishing when other anglers have been sitting around moaning about the weather. Don’t forget to take some wire for trace making. In Dubai near the Public Library there are several tackle shops carrying a good selection of spinning gear, including Rapala lures which are far cheaper than in the UK, but no fly fishing gear is available as yet.

Clothing Etc.

Clothing – It’s quite simple. For daytime use take shorts, shirts and a good pair of deck shoes with white soles. Don’t take shoes with black rubber soles because you want to have a happy skipper. Make sure you have a good peaked cap with a dark coloured under brim and a good pair of polarised glasses. Some restaurants insist on slacks and shirt so I suggest you take a good pair of pants with a nice shirt. For visiting the bars you can wear shorts and tee shirts if you so wish. A place to visit is the Irish Village where you can get a good pint of beer and some decent food with live music. Clothing is very cheap. If you have some favourite shirts you can get them copied for just a few pounds. Don’t forget to take a look around the fish market and see the different species and size of fish that are caught in the area. I once had the pleasure of seeing a kingfish over six feet long. It was huge. You will also learn a lot about the various species of fish that roam the waters of the Gulf. If you want more details E-mail me martin@flyfish.demon.co.uk or visit your travel agent. You can of course check out the web site www.jebelalihotel.com

A Tool For Fly fishers

Steve Abel of Abel products, based in California, has given us some excellent saltwater fly rods, reels, fly tying vices, tackle bags etc. over the years. I purchased an Abel travel bag about three years ago from Kaufmanns Streamborn during a steelhead fishing trip to Oregon. It still looks as good as new and it’s been all over the world. It holds all my tape recording equipment, cameras and three quality saltwater fly reels. Recently I received a small piece of equipment known as the ‘Perfect Tool’ Folded, it measures 2-3/8″ in a matt finished stainless steel. When opened you have all the tools you will probably need at the waterside. There is a nail knot/tying tool, clipper/nipper, a bodkin – which as we all know is a needle. This can be used to clear clogged hook eyes, bad casting knots and back lashes. You will find scissors, hook sharpener, knife blade, bottle opener, three box wrenches metric and inch scale. Well done Abel Quality Products for a fine piece of equipment. Though this bit of equipment is made from stainless steel you should always keep it clean and give it a wipe down with WD-40

Fishing tip from Lefty Kreh

Want to make sure all your small dry flies and big pike flies will stay afloat? Lefty Kreh gave me this very good tip. Before the season starts give all your dry flies a good soaking in Rainex which should be available from Halfords or similar stores. If you’re having problems with your glasses on a rainy day or they get misted up, wipe them with Rainex.

The Complete Book of the Grayling – Ron Broughton

This autumn and winter has not been the best to fly fish for grayling. Most waters have been bank high and coloured. Under these conditions it’s bait fishing for grayling. I have just been reading the above book which in my opinion leaves a lot to be desired. I have no complaints with the colour photographs at the beginning of the book, though a lot of the black and white pictures I feel have been published before or are of poor quality. With a price tag of 35 pounds sterling I feel the photographs should be crisp and sharp. The chapter on Bait fishing for grayling certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Page 71 “Make no mistake, the winter grayling is a bottom feeding-fish”. Not strictly true. I have taken a lot of grayling in winter on a dry fly. I have also taken them on trotted sweet corn in mid-water on many occasions Page 72 Under rods I quote: “Most coarse-fishing rods are tip-actioned, provided it is not taken to ridiculous extremes, this is a good characteristic in a trotting-rod as it enables effective striking at a long range”. I totally disagree with this view. I, and many of my friends who are better anglers than I am, have always used all through action rods (known as Avon action rods) when long trotting – which is easing a float down a swim thirty, forty sometimes fifty yards. The Avon action rods are designed to stick a hook into a fish at long range. Another mention on handles states: “A long handle is a boon”. What is a long handle? 36″ or 20″? I use cork handles around 22″ on all my rods used in float fishing and legering – I consider these long enough. Page 75. Under long-trotting reels we read: “Long casting is rarely called for in long trotting”. Not all trotting a swim is under the rod tip; on many occasions it demands fishing tight to the opposite bank. I feel that it’s imperative to be able to use the Wallis cast. This cannot be done correctly with a line guard. If you’re interested in learning the Wallis cast contact Alan Roe To the best of my knowledge he is the best in the business. E-mail Alan at alan@barbel.fsbusiness.co.uk. On hooks page 80-81: “A more practical problem is that of obtaining barbless hooks of sufficient strength, as those on the market tend to be of the fine wire variety”. Has the writer not heard of Partridge Jack Hilton barbless hooks? They are not fine wire and have been around for a long time. I found the chapter on Still water and Welsh rivers by Louis Noble very interesting. It was well written and full of information though I felt Louis could have written a bigger chapter though he might have been restricted on space. I was surprised no mention was given to Prince Albert AS who have some excellent grayling water in Wales. Details of membership to PASS write to Membership Secretary Colin Swindells, 37 Sherwood Road, Macclesfield, SK11 7RR. Enclose a stamped addressed envelope. The society have many miles of excellent grayling, brown, sea trout and salmon angling in various parts of the country. My overall impression of this book is that it could have been a lot better. More colour photographs, better quality black and white photographs and less fly patterns. Why not the top half dozen flies? I felt the chapter on bait fishing left a lot to be desired. I feel John Roberts book, The Grayling Angler, is a better read. Though out of print it should be available through your local library or second hand dealer. The Complete Book of the Grayling published by Robert Hale price 35 pounds sterling is over-priced. I give it four out of ten.

If you have any questions E-mail me martin@flyfish.demon.co.uk